England are playing Test cricket like they are playing for a club side on a Saturday: Michael Vaughan

Ben Stokes-led England Test team will face their toughest challenge yet when they host Australia in a much-anticipated Ashes series commencing in June later this year. While question marks have been raised about England's preparations ahead of the high-profile Test series, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has backed the red-ball team for success against the Aussies.

The English team has received flak for their lack of involvement against county sides in the build-up to the famed Test series against Australia later this year. The Three Lions were battered by the Aussies Down Under last year and are seeking revenge this time around after turning a corner since the arrival of Brendon McCullum at the helm.

However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has dismissed the notion of the Test side's lack of preparations, stating that Ben Stokes' side are doing things their own way and are finding great success with it as well. Vaughan revealed that the team's relaxed mentality is bringing them great success, compared to the old-school way of doing things.

"This England team are ripping up the coaching manual and saying 'we are not doing it that way anymore'. I admire them for it. How many times have you heard players saying their mind is frazzled from the day-to-day treadmill, trying to deliver? Yet this England side are playing Test cricket like they are playing for a club side on a Saturday. You turn up and have fun. That is the hardest mentality to attain. If they continue to commit to it, they will be successful," Vaughan said in his column for The Telegraph. 

Too much preparation can be problematic: Vaughan

The ex-cricketer further emphasised his point, stating that practice matches and rigorous training could drain the players even before the actual series starts. It is better to train a relaxed mentality ahead of a high-profile series rather than indulging in practice matches. It is worth noting that the Aussies won't be playing any tour matches ahead of the Test series either.

"People have to understand, international cricket is not about the weeks before the series and playing lots of county matches. It is about the head and mind. It is freeing up your mentality to be relaxed enough to cope with the stress and pressures of international cricket and arriving on match day looking forward to playing. The more you do something, the more you can be drained by it, which is why too much preparation can be problematic," he explained.